Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between first and second duct portions of a ventilation system includes first and second heat pipe portions in the first and second duct portions, respectively. Each heat pipe portion can be a heat pipe subassembly including one or more vertical heat pipes fluidly coupled to top and bottom headers, which are respectively connected to the top and bottom headers of the other subassembly to form a refrigerant loop. One or more flow restrictors can block air flow through a respective section of the first or second duct portion. The blocked section can be operatively aligned with a segment of the respective heat pipe portion along which there is a low probability of refrigerant phase change. Each flow restrictor can be an adjustable damper. The damper(s) can be selectively opened and closed as the ventilation system switches between heating and cooling modes.

Abstract: An aviary that includes a system for providing litter to birds and for circulating the litter throughout the aviary. A litter distribution chain extends through at least some of the scratching platforms. The litter distribution chain receives litter from a storage container and then transfers the litter through the aviary for use by the birds on the scratching platforms. At least a portion of the litter from one scratching platform is directed to move to a scratching platform on a lower level where the litter may be used by birds occupying this lower level. This circulation pattern repeats on the current level, with the recycled litter being deposited on at least one scratching platform near the next lower aviary tower level. Once the litter reaches the lowest aviary tower level, it remains there until it is removed from the aviary by a belt or other means.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems pertaining to sequencing units of analytes using nanopores. In general, arresting constructs are used to modify an analyte such that the modified analyte pauses in the opening of a nanopore. During such a pause, an ion current level is obtained that corresponds to a unit of the analyte. After altering the modified analyte such that the modified analyte advances through the opening, another arresting construct again pauses the analyte, allowing for a second ion current level to be obtained that represents a second unit of the analyte. This process may be repeated until each unit of the analyte is sequenced. Systems for performing such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the provision of new means and methods for enzymatic peptide-peptide ligation. In particular, the present invention provides a novel family of transpeptidase enzymes, herein subsequently also referred to as Adriase (Archaeal Peptide Recombinase), transpeptidase or polypeptide recombinase. The members of the Adriase family, which are characterized by an N-terminal DUF2121 domain with an N-terminal serine or threonine residue were surprisingly found to recombine and ligate substrate peptides in a sequence specific manner via a short DUF2121 recognition motif. This way, compounds like proteins, synthetic compounds and/or whole cells may be linked specifically as long as they contain the motif or the parts thereof recognized by an Adriase enzyme. The ligation reaction described herein can be used to engineer novel molecules in a modular way, with broad applications in both research and pharmacology.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems pertaining to sequencing units of analytes using nanopores. In general, arresting constructs are used to modify an analyte such that the modified analyte pauses in the opening of a nanopore. During such a pause, an ion current level is obtained that corresponds to a unit of the analyte. After altering the modified analyte such that the modified analyte advances through the opening, another arresting construct again pauses the analyte, allowing for a second ion current level to be obtained that represents a second unit of the analyte. This process may be repeated until each unit of the analyte is sequenced. Systems for performing such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between first and second duct portions of a ventilation system includes first and second heat pipe portions in the first and second duct portions, respectively. Each heat pipe portion can be a heat pipe subassembly including one or more vertical heat pipes fluidly coupled to top and bottom headers, which are respectively connected to the top and bottom headers of the other subassembly to form a refrigerant loop. One or more flow restrictors can block air flow through a respective section of the first or second duct portion. The blocked section can be operatively aligned with a segment of the respective heat pipe portion along which there is a low probability of refrigerant phase change. Each flow restrictor can be an adjustable damper. The damper(s) can be selectively opened and closed as the ventilation system switches between heating and cooling modes.

Abstract: A ventilation system for an aviary including at least one exterior wall disposed between a floor and a roof. The ventilation system includes a first fan disposed in one of the at least one exterior walls. A plenum is disposed on one of the at least one exterior walls. A second fan is disposed in flow communication with the plenum. The present embodiments also provide a method of constructing a ventilation system in an aviary, which aviary includes at least one exterior wall disposed between a floor and a roof, a first fan, a plenum, and a second fan. The method includes disposing the first fan in one of the at least one exterior walls. The method also includes disposing the plenum on one of the at least one exterior walls. The method also includes disposing the second fan in flow communication with the plenum.

Abstract: A method is described herein, comprising registering an event at a first processing unit of a processing facility comprising a plurality of processing units, using a coincidence probability array and an event probability to identify a second processing unit of the plurality of processing units based on the event, determining whether the second processing unit experienced a coincident event, if the second processing unit experienced a coincident event, remediating a condition of the second processing unit that caused the coincident event, and updating the coincidence probability array based on the event.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing flowability of a multiphase fluid are provided. The method includes agitating a sample of the multiphase fluid contained in a container while controlling an agitation force applied to the sample; pouring the sample, after it has been agitated, into a viscosity cup having an opening at its upper end and an orifice at its lower end and thereby causing the multiphase fluid to flow out of the viscosity cup through the orifice; weighing an amount of the multiphase fluid that has flowed through the orifice and into a receiving vessel over a period of time; and assessing flowability of the multiphase fluid sample using the weight of the multiphase fluid sample in the receiving vessel as a function of time.

Abstract: A heat pipe heat exchanger is used in combination with a damper assembly to selectively control an amount of heat exchange provided. A divider defines discrete heat pipe plenums and bypass plenums within a duct, and the heat pipe system is configured so that all of the coils of one portion of the heat pipe system are received in the heat pipe plenum(s), while the bypass plenum(s) are free of any coils. The damper assembly includes adjustable heat pipe dampers aligned with the heat pipe plenums and adjustable bypass dampers aligned with the bypass plenums.

Abstract: A method is described herein, comprising registering an event at a first processing unit of a processing facility comprising a plurality of processing units, using a coincidence probability array and an event probability to identify a second processing unit of the plurality of processing units based on the event, determining whether the second processing unit experienced a coincident event, if the second processing unit experienced a coincident event, remediating a condition of the second processing unit that caused the coincident event, and updating the coincidence probability array based on the event.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between first and second duct portions of a ventilation system includes first and second heat pipe portions in the first and second duct portions, respectively. Each heat pipe portion can be a heat pipe subassembly including one or more vertical heat pipes fluidly coupled to top and bottom headers, which are respectively connected to the top and bottom headers of the other subassembly to form a refrigerant loop. One or more flow restrictors can block air flow through a respective section of the first or second duct portion. The blocked section can be operatively aligned with a segment of the respective heat pipe portion along which there is a low probability of refrigerant phase change. Each flow restrictor can be an adjustable damper. The damper(s) can be selectively opened and closed as the ventilation system switches between heating and cooling modes.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems pertaining to sequencing units of analytes using nanopores. In general, arresting constructs are used to modify an analyte such that the modified analyte pauses in the opening of a nanopore. During such a pause, an ion current level is obtained that corresponds to a unit of the analyte. After altering the modified analyte such that the modified analyte advances through the opening, another arresting construct again pauses the analyte, allowing for a second ion current level to be obtained that represents a second unit of the analyte. This process may be repeated until each unit of the analyte is sequenced. Systems for performing such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between first and second duct portions of a ventilation system includes first and second heat pipe portions in the first and second duct portions, respectively. Each heat pipe portion can be a heat pipe subassembly including one or more vertical heat pipes fluidly coupled to top and bottom headers, which are respectively connected to the top and bottom headers of the other subassembly to form a refrigerant loop. One or more flow restrictors can block air flow through a respective section of the first or second duct portion. The blocked section can be operatively aligned with a segment of the respective heat pipe portion along which there is a low probability of refrigerant phase change. Each flow restrictor can be an adjustable damper. The damper(s) can be selectively opened and closed as the ventilation system switches between heating and cooling modes.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide an aviary, a walkway for an aviary, and a walkway system for an aviary. The walkway includes a ramp and at least one support disposed below the ramp.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide an aviary, a walkway for an aviary, and a walkway system for an aviary. The walkway includes a ramp and at least one support disposed below the ramp.

Abstract: Pre-dosed wipes and packaged systems of such wipes including a nonwoven substrate formed from natural pulp fibers and synthetic thermoplastic binder fibers comprising at least one of a biodegradable and/or compostable polyester, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), or polyvinyl acetate (PVA). The binder fibers, and the nonwoven substrate as a whole may meet any applicable biodegradability/compostability standard (e.g., ASTM D6400 or EN13432). The wipe may be substantially void of PLA. The fibers and/or nonwoven substrate may be meltblown, spunbond, spunlaid, SMS (spunbond-meltblown-spunbond), coformed, carded web, thermal bonded, thermoformed, spunlace, hydroentangled, hydroembossed, needled, or chemically bonded. A cleaning composition is loaded onto the wipe. A container can be provided within which the plurality of nonwoven substrates pre-dosed with the cleaning composition are packaged.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide an aviary, a walkway for an aviary, and a walkway system for an aviary. The walkway includes a ramp and at least one support disposed below the ramp.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems pertaining to sequencing units of analytes using nanopores. In general, arresting constructs are used to modify an analyte such that the modified analyte pauses in the opening of a nanopore. During such a pause, an ion current level is obtained that corresponds to a unit of the analyte. After altering the modified analyte such that the modified analyte advances through the opening, another arresting construct again pauses the analyte, allowing for a second ion current level to be obtained that represents a second unit of the analyte. This process may be repeated until each unit of the analyte is sequenced. Systems for performing such methods are also disclosed.